Presentation of the NABC Recycled Ride® Took Place April 29 at Bill Knight Collision Repair in Tulsa, OK
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL (April 30, 2026) – On Wednesday, April 29, an Oklahoma City, OK, veteran in need received a life changing – a refurbished vehicle to help him in caring for his young sons. The donation was made possible by vehicle donor Farmers Insurance and repair partner Bill Knight Collision Repair, a member of the OpenRoad Collision network of brands.
The presentation took place at Bill Knight Collision Repair in Tulsa, OK. The recipient was nominated by Oklahoma Veterans United. Oklahoma Veterans United is built on an 80+ year legacy of bringing our community together to research, plan, coordinate action and assess progress to address some of Oklahoma’s most critical social service, health, education and civic challenges.
“This is part of what we do when we find veterans that have been through a lot of challenges in their life and then they take the necessary steps to get back on their feet and kind of get themselves in a much better spot than they have,” said NABC Board Member Tim Bates. “We look for charities, such as the one that recommended [Mr. Haywood] today, to give back to him what he’s given to our nation. This is going to be life changing for him. He has struggled with the transportation piece for a long time. Obviously, it interferes with daily life and with him being a single father as well, this is going to restore a lot back to him.”
A 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, donated by Farmers Insurance and refurbished by the technicians at Bill Knight Collision Repair, was presented to James Haywood. Jamesserved honorably in the United States Army and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. He has taken steps to rebuild his life and assimilate to society, all while raising two young sons. While attempting to get his life back online, he is also making attempts to provide safety and transportation for his children. Haywood recently obtained employment and will benefit from this gift of reliable transportation by meeting the demands of being a working parent. This refurbished vehicle from the NABC Recycled Rides® program will allow Haywood to stay very involved with his sons as he navigates being a working single father and all that entails in today’s world.
“I don’t like to cry in public, but with good things like that, I mean, what can you do? Tears of joy,” recipient James Haywood said.
Farmers, a level one member of the NABC®, has donated nearly 100 vehicles to people and organizations in need through NABC Recycled Rides® program.
Bill Knight Collision Repair has 7 locations in Broken Arrow, Owasso, Stillwater, and Tulsa (4). Their certified, highly trained teams combine deep expertise with an unwavering commitment to quality, ensuring every repair is completed with precision and care—without ever sacrificing attention to detail.
OpenRoad Collision is a network of top repair brands that includes Bill Knight Collision. OpenRoad provides access to industry-leading resources, advanced technology, and a broader support system spanning 37 body shops across multiple states. This connection strengthens their ability to stay ahead of the evolving collision repair landscape—while continuing to serve their local communities with the same trusted service they’re known for.
Additional partners in this presentation include: LKQ, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Wheel Technologies, 918 Wrecker, Advanced Remarketing Services, Cars for Charity, Copart and Enterprise.
NABC Recycled Rides® is a unique program in which businesses representing all facets of the collision repair industry team up to repair and donate vehicles to individuals and families in need of reliable transportation. Since the inception of the NABC Recycled Rides® program in 2007, members of the National Auto Body Council® have donated more than 3,750 vehicles valued at some $67 million.
About the National Auto Body Council®:
The National Auto Body Council® is the premier organization of collision industry partners dedicated to strategic networking opportunities that positively change lives in the communities we serve. The collaborative membership of the National Auto Body Council® has gifted more than 3,750 vehicles valued at more than $67 million and provided extrication opportunities for some 7,000 First Responders in communities around the country through NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC First Responder Emergency Extrication (F.R.E.E.™).
The NABC Changing and Saving Lives Foundation, a 501c3 organization, is committed to the goal of driving change for veterans, military members, first responders and families in need, while harnessing the power of the collective membership of the collision repair industry to positively impact communities where we live and work. As demand for NABC® programs like NABC Recycled Rides® and NABC F.R.E.E.™ grows, so do the needs for resources to manage these important programs. Being able to pursue grants, gifts and donations allows NABC to expand these programs to serve those in need and help communities where we live and work.
The Changing and Saving Lives Foundation Keys for Change program also helps drive funding for key programs. The easy, efficient donation process allows vehicle owners to turn their unwanted vehicles into life-changing support. All vehicle donations fund critical programs that provide support and assistance for families in need, military members, veterans and first responders.
For more information, visit http://www.nationalautobodycouncil.org.